Leanne Calls for Thorough Investigation in Maternity Services Inquiry

Rhondda AM Leanne Wood has asked a health board to extend the period they are investigating maternity services at a hospital following a number of incidents.

Cwm Taf University Health Board is to undertake a review following the identification of 43 “adverse outcomes” at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant between January 2016 and September 2018. Part of the inquiry will examine if “all appropriate actions were taken at the time.”

In response to the incidents, the health board has recruited extra staff including a doctor, a consultant midwife and 15 midwives. They are also advertising for additional medical staff - including a consultant - and have engaged senior midwife support from neighbouring health boards.

Ms Wood said: “It is concerning to hear of this review. Inquiries of this nature are rare and are not instigated on a whim.

“It is clear from the recruitment drive that Cwm Taf has embarked on since realising there was a problem that staffing has been an issue in the maternity department.

“I hope the new appointments and the appointments yet to be made have the impact of turning the department around and relieving the pressure on existing staff.

“I would ask if anyone has been affected by this issue and has not been contacted by the health board to make contact with them as soon as possible. If it has not been done already, I would also want counselling services to be made available as reliving matters such as this can be seriously traumatic.”

Leanne added: “I do question the decision to limit the inquiry to the two-and-a-half year period between January 2016 and September 2018. I have heard of maternity incidents at the hospital warranting further investigation that go back much further than that this limited time frame.

“To get to the root of the problem, an inquiry needs to be held that gathers up the full facts of the matter.

“I will be writing to the chief executive of Cwm Taf University Health Board to request that no limits are placed on this investigation and that it delves back as far into the past as it needs to."

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About Leanne

As I look around the Rhondda, I am reminded that if we keep doing the same thing we will get the same results. As the AM for the Rhondda, I am committed to policies that will provide solutions to our problems. There is no problem that cannot be solved. My vision for the Rhondda includes a plan to create jobs, to support and improve public services and to make the Rhondda and Wales a better place for all of us to live.